Posts: 17

Topic: Mom is now in Hospice care

My mom is now in home hospice care, she was transferred to the hospice house two weeks because her pain was so bad, they believe she has a small bowel obstruction. They wanted to keep her a while but she wanted to go home so we brought her home last Tuesday. She eats next to nothing , maybe 1 cracker all day and drinks very little. friday night she started projectile vomiting and stays nauseated. She seems disoriented and I'm scared. Could it be she is being over medicated or is it most likely the cancer? I'm so worried , I don't know what to look for in the end stages, can someone please let me know their experiences ? Thanks Susan

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

I don't have any experiences with this but I'm sure many others will be along soon to offer their advice. I am sending prayers for you and your dear Mom.

Hugs,-Pam

My beautiful daughter, Lauren Patrice, will live on in my heart forever.

My comments, suggestions, and opinions are based on my experience as a caretaker for my daughter, Lauren and from reading anything I can get my hands on about Cholangiocarcinoma. Please consult a physician for professional guidance.

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

Hi Susan,

Your home hospice workers should be able to answer your questions as far as possible over-medication and what to look for near the end. My husband transitioned through in-house hospice and did not experience projectile vomiting so I cannot offer any insight there. Sending prayers.

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

Dearest Susan, this is about what happened with my Teddy. If you like I can send you the "Last 10 Steps to the End". I can send it through the Boards E Mail. I am so sorry but I know for me it helped as Teddy followed it pretty closely. I am so very sorry.

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHINGAny suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

Dear Susan,

I am so sorry to hear that things have reached this stage with your mum. This is such a very tough time for you right now and I went through this with my dad as well. My dad was in hospice care and I wrote a bit about his experiences here on the site. Should you wish to read about that you can do so here -

I don't know if any of that will be of use to you or not but I hope that it may help. If your mum is at home then I assume that she will have hospice nurses coming to see her every day, and they will be able to help with the questions that you have. My dad went into hospice care when his vomiting got really bad and they did everything that they possibly could to keep him as comfortable as they possibly could.

Please remember that we are all here for you right now. My thoughts are with you Susan as you go through this and I wish you every strength.

Hugs,

Gavin

Any advice or comments I give are based on personal experiences and knowledge and are my opinions only, they are not to be substituted for professional medical advice. Please seek professional advice from a qualified doctor or medical professional.

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

speppers.....My heart is with you. Intermittent projectile vomiting and Cognitive impairment can be related to the bowel obstruction and often times signals end stage disease. Speppers, who is tending to your Mom? Is hospice personnel coming to her house? Hugs,Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

Thank you all, she lives about 250 miles from me with my Aunt, my Aunt and Home hospice take care of her , I wish I could be with her more but I have to work. I took last week off to be with her but needed to return home this week. I did ask the hospice nurse if she could be over medicated but she said she didn't think she was , she thought she was just adjusting to the changes they had to make in her medications to get the pain under control. She just doesn't act herself and the change was so sudden.

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

Hi Gavin, I did follow the link and thank you, it does help some to know what I should be looking for. Reading this does lead me to think possibly Mom has more time with us. There has been no black bile only water which is really about all she takes in. I'm just not sure how long a person can survive on water alone.

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

Susan, sent, hope it helps. Remember everyone is different, I know Teddy really followed it closely. Just want to say, one cannot survive on just water. Just happened to me with a Colitis attack. Almost starved myself to death. I was on water only for 3 weeks! Not being dramatic, its the truth. I ended up in the hospital for 2 weeks. If she can drink water can she do any of the nutritional drinks, or even fruit juice. The body must have it's nutrition and water just won't cut it, so don't believe those deserted island movies where they survive on water. They don't. I am here almost all the time, questions feel free to email me. I do know what you are going through, BE STROMG!

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHINGAny suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

I' have purchased every type of nutritional drink possible, she refuses them because the drinks are sweet and that makes her nauseated. I did ask the nurse if there was anything that was flavor free but she couldn't think of anything.The only juice I have found she can tolerate is white grape juice and even that bothers at times. Susan

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

Susan, I just remembered there is a water out there that has nutrients in it. I know the Pharmacies would have it, can't think of the name, sorry. My daughter had brought it to me. Or you could ask the Pharmacist what they could suggest that was not sweet.

Teddy ~In our hearts forever~ATTITUDE is EVERYTHINGAny suggestion I offer is intended as friendly advice based solely on my own experience. Please consult your doctor for professional guidance.

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

She did try drinking the watered down boost but it comes back up. When she gets nauseated, everything comes back including water. She went two days without vomiting but today my sister said she is vomiting again. I hate to see her suffer like this. There is no pattern of when she will get sick. It just comes with a force and she is so miserable. Susan

Re: Mom is now in Hospice care

Susan..Sensitive, sensitive, sensitive....you would want to confirm this with the physician. It appears that your Mom's biliary obstruction is not allowing anything to pass through. Susan, it can get to the point that even Saliva will come up. Please speak with the physician and hospice nurse in regards to medication which is urgently needed. For instances such as these, a bypass procedure can be performed, but again this is something only the physician can order or agree to. I will send you an e-mail, the one associated with your Cholangiocarcinoma account. Please check your mailHugs,Marion

THIS INFORMATION IS NOT INTENDED NOR IMPLIED TO BE A SUBSTITUTE FOR PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL ADVICE. YOU SHOULD ALWAYS SEEK THE ADVICE OF YOUR PHYSICIAN OR OTHER QUALIFIED HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

The information expressed is not medical advice. The discussion boards are not intended to replace the services of a trained health professional or to be a substitute for the medical advice of physicians or other healthcare providers. Read the full disclaimer.